Waiting time for U.S. visa applicants

WASHINGTON, May 1 (UPI) -- So many highly skilled workers applied for temporary U.S. visas this year that officials cut off applications 48 hours after the April 1 filing date.

The 65,000 temporary visas will be awarded this month with a computer lottery from more than 123,000 applications, USA Today reported. In comparison, last year the visas were awarded on a first-come basis and applications were accepted until May 26.

As the U.S. Congress prepares to look at immigration laws, one of the issues it will consider is whether more skilled workers should be permitted to move to the United States.

"I'd like to see America bring in the smartest people from everywhere and let them stay as long as they want," U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, told USA Today.

Others weren't so sure.

"The more people there are for those jobs, the worse off American workers will be," Harvard University economist George Borjas told the newspaper.

While applicants for the temporary worker visa were waiting to see if their number was picked, minor league baseball and hockey players had no suspense. USA Today reported that Congress last year exempted them from the work visa cap.